A single-center, randomized, double-blind, dose-controlled trial of modified Sini Powder in treating mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) in the patients with syndrome of liver depression transforming into fire was conducted at Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. A total of 80 patients with mild to moderate GAD and the syndrome of liver depression transforming into fire were included. Patients were assigned by the central randomization system at a ratio of 3∶1 into an observation group(n=60, receiving a conventional-dose of granules of modified Sini Powder) and a control group(n=20, receiving low-dose granules with the active ingredients being 50% of that in observation group). Assessments were conducted before treatment(baseline), after 2 weeks of introduction, after 2/4/8 weeks of treatment, and after 4 weeks of follow-up. The results were summarized as follows. In terms of primary outcome indicators, the observation group(62.2%) showed higher total response rate than the control group(26.6%)(P<0.05), and greater Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA) score reduction after 8 weeks of treatment(P<0.05). In terms of secondary outcome indicators, the HAMA score(somatic anxiety score), traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome scores, Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) scale, and clinical global impression(CGI) scale score in the observation group showed a significant compared to the control group at each visit points(P<0.05). Adverse events occurred in 10 cases, including 9(16.9%) cases in the observation group and 1(6.6%) case in the control group. No adverse reaction was observed. In conclusion, conventional-dose modified Sini Powder demonstrated superior efficacy and favorable safety for mild and moderate GAD in the patients with the syndrome of liver depression transforming into fire over low-dose treatment.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Anxiety Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; Powders ; Aged ; Liver/drug effects* ; Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Objective： To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Tonifying kidney and activating blood therapy for the treatment of diabetic mellitus erectile dysfunction. Methods： China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, Chinese Biomedical Database(CBM), PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science were searched from inception until October 20th of 2024，for randomized controlled trials of Tonifying kidney and activating blood therapy for the treatment of diabetic erectile dysfunction. Literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction were carried out in accordance with relevant standards. The software of RevMan5.4 was used for the analysis of publication bias. And meta-analysis was conducted to assess the impact of this therapy on IIEF-5, total effective rate, adverse reactions. The evidence levels according to the analysis results were evaluated. Results: Totally 19 RCTs were included, involving 1 612 patients. The result of meta-analysis indicated that Tonifying kidney and activating blood therapy had advantages on the improvement of IIEF-5 scores (MD=3.59，95%CI［2.14，5.03］，P<0.01)，total effective rate (OR=4.30，95%CI［3.29，5.32］，P<0.000 01）. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions(OR=0.98，95%CI［0.48，2.01］，P=0.96) between the two groups. Conclusions： Tonifying kidney and activating blood therapy can improve the clinical efficacy and IIEF-5 score for the patients with diabetic erectile dysfunction. But considering the limited quantity of included studies, more high-quality studies still be needed to validate the therapeutic effect.
Humans ; Male ; Erectile Dysfunction/therapy* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Kidney ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Diabetes Complications/therapy*

Over the past decade, mitochondrial dysfunction has been investigated as a key contributor to acute and chronic kidney disease. However, the precise molecular mechanisms linking mitochondrial damage to kidney disease remain elusive. The recent insights into the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (GMP-AMP) synthetase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon gene (STING) signaling pathway have revealed its involvement in many renal diseases. One of these findings is that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) induces inflammatory responses via the cGAS-STING pathway. Herein, we provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying mtDNA release following mitochondrial damage, focusing specifically on the association between mtDNA release-activated cGAS-STING signaling and the development of kidney diseases. Furthermore, we summarize the latest findings of cGAS-STING signaling pathway in cell, with a particular emphasis on its downstream signaling related to kidney diseases. This review intends to enhance our understanding of the intricate relationship among the cGAS-STING pathway, kidney diseases, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Extracellular vesicles(EVs)are nano-sized bilayer vesicles that are shed or secreted by virtually every cell type.A variety of biomolecules,including proteins,lipids,coding and non-coding RNAs,and mitochondrial DNA,can be selectively encapsulated into EVs and delivered to nearby and distant recipient cells,leading to alterations in the recipient cells,suggesting that EVs play an important role in intercellular communication.EVs play effective roles in physiology and pathology and could be used as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.At present,although the mechanisms of exosome biogenesis and secretion in donor cells are well understood,the molecular mechanism of EV recognition and uptake by recipient cells is still unclear.This review summarizes the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of EVs'biological journey in recipient cells,from recognition to uptake and cargo release.Furthermore,we highlight how EVs escape endolysosomal degradation after uptake and thus release cargo,which is crucial for studies applying EVs as drug-targeted delivery vehicles.Knowledge of the cellular processes that govern EV uptake is important to shed light on the functions of EVs as well as on related clinical applications.

Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer have a good prognosis after radioiodine-131 therapy,but a small number of patients are insensitive to radioiodine-131 therapy and even continue to develop disease.At present,some targeted drugs can improve progression-free survival in patients with radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer(RAIR-DTC),such as sorafenib and levatinib,have been approved for the treatment of RAIR-DTC.However,due to the presence of primary and acquired drug resistance,drug efficacy in these patients is unsatisfactory.This review introduces the acquired drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)pathways and proposes related treatment strategies,in order to provide a reference for similar drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib and effective treatment of RAIR-DTC.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of survival in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes(HR-MDS)and provide a reference for the clinical prognosis of patients with HR-MDS.Methods General data,blood routine test,bone marrow smear with histopathology,cytogenetics,and other clinical data of 200 patients diagnosed with HR-MDS at Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences,during the period of January 2016-September 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.The included patients were categorized into the arsenic-containing herbal combination combined with demethylating agents(HMAs)treatment group and the arsenic-containing Chinese medicine compound combined with androgen treatment group.The influence of clinical indices on the survival characteristics of each group was analyzed.Results Comparison of the impact of clinical indicators on survival in 200 patients with HR-MDS who were treated with arsenic-containing herbal compounds in combination with HMAs or androgens showed that high-risk vs.very high-risk(P=0.018),hemoglobin(Hb)<80 g/L vs.Hb≥80 g/L(P=0.035),platelet(PLT)counts<50×109 L-1 vs.PLT counts≥50×109 L-1(P<0.001),and the difference in median progression-free survival(PFS)time between myelodysplastic syndromes converted to leukemia(MDS-AML)and non-MDS-AML(P=0.003)were statistically significant.Comparison of survival effects of clinical indicators in 68 patients with HR-MDS who were treated with arsenic-containing Chinese medicine compound combined with HMAs showed that the difference in median PFS between PLT count<50×109 L-1 and PLT count≥50×109 L-1(P<0.001)and the difference in median PFS between<5 and≥5 courses of chemotherapy(P=0.018)were statistically significant.Comparison of survival effects of clinical indicators in 132 patients with HR-MDS who were treated with arsenic-containing Chinese medicine compound combined with androgens showed that Hb<80 g/L and Hg≥80 g/L(P=0.028),PLT count<50×109 L-1 and PLT count≥50×109 L-1(P=0.002),and the mean differences in PFS between MDS-AML and non-MDS-AML(P=0.024)were statistically significant.Conclusion The clinical characteristics of long-surviving patients treated with arsenic-containing herbal combination in combination with HMAs included PLT counts≥50×109 L-1 and≥5 courses of chemotherapy.The clinical characteristics of long-surviving patients treated with arsenic-containing herbal combination in combination with androgens included Hg≥80 g/L,PLT count≥50×109 L-1,and non-MDS-AML.

Aim To investigate the therapeutic effect of the MW-9 on ulcerative colitis(UC)and reveal the underlying mechanism, so as to provide a scientific guidance for the MW-9 treatment of UC. Methods The model of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells was established. The effect of MW-9 on RAW264.7 cells viability was detected by MTT assay. The levels of nitric oxide(NO)in RAW264.7 macrophages were measured by Griess assay. Cell supernatants and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines containing IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β were determined by ELISA kits. Dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced UC model in mice was established and body weight of mice in each group was measured. The histopathological damage degree of colonic tissue was assessed by HE staining. The protein expression of p-p38, p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK was detected by Western blot. Results MW-9 intervention significantly inhibited NO release in RAW264.7 macrophages with IC50 of 20.47 mg·L-1 and decreased the overproduction of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α(P<0.05). MW-9 had no cytotoxicity at the concentrations below 6 mg·L-1. After MW-9 treatment, mouse body weight was gradually reduced, and the serum IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α levels were significantly down-regulated. Compared with the model group, MW-9 significantly decreased the expression of p-p38 and p-ERK1/2 protein. Conclusions MW-9 has significant anti-inflammatory activities both in vitro and in vivo, and its underlying mechanism for the treatment of UC may be associated with the inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the action mechanism of tauroursodeoxycholic acid(TUDCA)promoting intracellular clearance of Burkholderia pseudomallei(B.pseudomallei)in RAW264.7 macrophages.Methods After TUDCA of different concentrations were used to treat RAW264.7 cells pre-infected with B.pseudomallei for 8 h or not,flow cytometry was applied to detect the apoptosis of the infected and control cells.In addition,another endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)inhibitor 4-PBA was used to detect the apoptosis and proliferation of host cells after B.pseudomallei infection with Annexin-V/PI double staining and MTT cell proliferation assay.Furthermore,after transfected with CHOP siRNA,Western blotting and flow cytometry were employed to detect the effect of TUDCA on the expression levels of Caspase-3 and Caspase-12 and the changes in apoptotic rate after B.pseudomallei infection,respectively.Finally,the effect of TUDCA on intracellular multiplication of infected RAW264.7 cells were observed to estimate the CFU value in the presence and absence of CHOP siRNA.Results Under different concentrations of TUDCA,100 or 200 μmol/L TUDCA significantly reduced B.pseudomallei-induced apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,both TUDCA and 4-PBA treatment could decrease the apoptosis induced by B.pseudomallei infection by ERS(P＜0.05).Further,the expression levels of Caspase-3 and Caspase-12 were obviously increased after B.pseudomallei infection compared with uninfected groups,but their expression levels in the siCHOP group was significantly lower than that in the siC group.Besides,flow cytometry also showed that TUDCA could reduce apoptosis induced by B.pseudomallei infection(P＜0.05),but no significant effect of TUDCA on apoptosis was observed under CHOP knockdown.Finally,intracellular CFU assay indicated that TUDCA treatment promoted the host cell clearance of B.pseudomallei(P＜0.05),but no such effect was observed in siCHOP group.Conclusion In B.pseudomallei infected RAW264.7 cells,TUDCA promotes the intracellular clearance of the bacteria by inhibiting ERS-induced apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of the Bushen Quhan Huashi Prescription(mainly composed of Drynariae Rhizoma,Eucommiae Cortex,Dipsaci Radix,Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix,Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens,Coicis Semen,and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix)in combination with Methotrexate on the disease activity and serum core-binding factor a1(Cbfa1)level of patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS)of kidney deficiency and governor-vessel cold type.Methods Ninety AS patients with kidney deficiency and governor-vessel cold type were randomly divided into a trial group and a control group,with 45 patients in each group.The control group was given Methotrexate treatment,and the trial group was treated with Bushen Quhan Huashi Prescription on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment in the two groups lasted for 3 months.The changes of Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index(BASDAI)scores,Bath ankylosing spondylitis function index(BASFI)scores and serum levels of Cbfa1,type I collagen carboxy-terminal peptide(CTX-Ⅰ)and Dickkopf1 protein(DKK1)of the two groups were observed before and after treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and the incidence of adverse effects were compared between the two groups.Results(1)After 3 months of treatment,the total effective rate of the trial group was 97.78%(44/45)and that of the control group was 82.22%(37/45).The intergroup comparison by chi-square test)showed that the therapeutic efficacy of the trial group was significantly superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the disease activity scores of BASDAI and BASFI in the two groups of patients were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the trial group's reduction of BASDAI scores and BASFI scores were significantly superior to those of the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the serum levels of serological indicators of Cbfa1,CTX-Ⅰ,and DKK1 in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of Cbfa1,CTX-Ⅰ and DKK1 levels in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the differences being all statistically significant(P＜0.01).(4)During the treatment,the incidence of adverse reactions in the trial group was 6.66%(3/45)and that in the control group was 11.11%(5/45),and the difference of the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion Bushen Quhan Huashi Prescription combined with Methotrexate exerts certain effect in treating AS patients with kidney deficiency and governor-vessel cold type,and the therapy can effectively control the disease activity and reduce the level of serum Cbfa1 expression in the patients.

The clinical data of one child with metanephric stromal tumor (MST) and BRAF V600E gene mutation admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in June 2022 was analyzed retrospectively.Literature was reviewed.The patient, a 2-year-old girl, was diagnosed with a tumor in the left abdomen.The maximum diameter of the tumor was 10.5 cm.A radical nephrectomy was performed on the left kidney, and postoperative pathology revealed MST.Microscopically, the tumor had no envelope and exhibited expansive growth.The tumor cells were fusiform or stellate, and nuclear division was visible in the cell-rich region.Dysplastic blood vessels were seen inside the tumor.The tumor cells around the blood vessels and invaginated renal tubules were arranged like onion skin.CD34 was detected positive by immunohistochemical staining, and BRAF V600E mutation was also detected positive by fluorescent polymerase chain reaction.A total of 21 relevant case reports were retrieved, including 16 in English and 5 in Chinese.Fifty-eight MST patients, including the one in this report were analyzed.These patients were aged 2 days to 15 years, with a median age of 2 years.Except for 2 patients with unknown sex, the ratio of male to female was about 1.4∶1.0.Most MST patients were asymptomatic, with an average tumor size of 5.3 cm.The tumor cell CD34 showed positive expression in different degrees.Eight patients received the BRAF V600E mutation detection, and the results were all positive.Fifty-eight patients underwent nephrectomy and were followed up for 0-156 months, of which 7 patients were assisted with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.During the follow-up, 1 patient died, and 1 patient had a relapse.MST is a rare benign renal stromal tumor. BRAF V600E mutations are detected in a variety of malignancies.This paper is the first to report MST with BRAF V600E mutation in China and points out the importance of molecular detection of BRAF mutation for accurate diagnosis of MST.